“He's been a captain for our team is a senior and has really matured,” said Belding coach Jeff Wierzbicki. “I can look for him to help the team in any aspect. He definitely decided to put the team on his back. It was great to see.”

Leading 31-22 at halftime, the Yellow Jackets opened the second half with a 3-pointer from Miquel Nieto and basket from Curtis Heppe, which motivated Belding coach Jeff Wierzbecki to call a quick timeout. Ian Cooper drove inside for a 42-28 lead midway in the period.

Kole Hart's triple at 2:45 of the third kept Belding close, 44-32. But the Jackets kept penetrating inside. Sutherland's 3-point play made it 50-38 late in the quarter and Greenville took a 12-point lead into the fourth.

Belding was without the inside presence of their tallest player, 6-5 sophomore Bryce Wilker, who incurred foul problems in the first half with four and had to sit the bench to open the third quarter. His absence allowed the Greenville offense to move inside.

Wilker drew his fifth foul with 5:51 to play in the fourth and left the game with Belding down 54-39.

“He really stepped it up,” Sutherland said. “He did a good job in there for us.”“We were at a height disadvantage and Wilker stepped in and started the game and played good for us,” Wierzbicki said. “I told him, 'Don't worry about fouls, just go in there and I want toughness and I want you to go after everything.' He played great. I'm looking forward for him to develop as a sophomore.”

Alex Karatkiewicz drove for two and a 56-39 Greenville advantage moments later.

Both teams opened their seasons with a loss and were anxious to succeed in game No. 2

The Yellowjackets fired out to an 18-4 lead in the first quarter, led by Cooper with 10 points.

“Anytime you can come into an environment like this and get off to a quick start, it definitely helps,” said Greenville coach Mark Haist. “It builds confidence. It was key for us to play with confidence.”

The Redskins got back in the game with a hot shooting hand from Brendan Sutherland in the second quarter with 11 points, including three triples. Sutherland's three at 3:40 cut the Greenville lead to 21-17.

“I thought we executed well,” Wierzbicki said. “But (Ian Cooper) came off the bench and did a great job giving them a spark. We came back but couldn't get over the hump. We played three very good quarters.”

Garrett Strotheide also had a key triple in the second quarter for the Redskins.

Karatkiewicz led Greenville with 18 points while Ian Cooper added 11.

“This is a rivalry game so the intensity is going to be there,” Haist said.Belding plays at Grant Tuesday night.

“From our first game, I really think we stepped it up,” Sutherland said. “Greenville is a tough team. Every year, they really bring it offensively and defensively. I really think our offense got moving.”

The key in future games, Sutherland said, is “keep pressure on defense and keep attacking the rim.”